Questions tagged [abiogenesis]
The study of how biological life arises from inorganic matter through natural processes, and the method by which life on Earth arose.
56
questions
1
vote
0
answers
68
views
Do we know abiogenesis only happened once on earth? [duplicate]
Do we know that abiogenesis happened only once on earth? Do biologists know that all life originates from a common ancestor?
If so, is this considered a sign that abiogenesis is rare even in under ...
- 193
0
votes
0
answers
48
views
Must RNA and DNA be the way it is?
We're carbon-based based life form with (mostly) iron-based oxygen transportation for apparently good reasons.
Is the same true for why life on Earth developed using nucleotides, amino acids, RNA and ...
- 143
-2
votes
1
answer
302
views
Is Eugene Koonin's probabilistic argument for the necessity of a multiverse to explain the origin of life sound?
About Eugene Koonin
Eugene Koonin, Ph.D.
NIH Distinguished Investigator
Evolutionary Genomics Research Group
NLM/NCBI
Dr. Koonin graduated from Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia and received ...
- 131
1
vote
0
answers
300
views
What are major obstacles that OOL research still has to overcome in order to come to a full understanding of how life could have arisen from non-life? [closed]
Dr. James Tour recently uploaded a video titled Dr. James Tour vs Dave Farina | Are we clueless about the origin of life? #abiogenesis.
The description in the video says:
Join us for an exciting ...
- 131
-2
votes
1
answer
70
views
Can stand-alone DNA (no nucleus, no membranes, organelles...etc.) create cells? [closed]
I have been searching for an answer to the following question as part of my research but can't find a direct/complete answer yet.
Can stand-alone DNA (no nucleus, no membranes, organelles...etc.) ...
1
vote
0
answers
39
views
Could abiogenesis still be ocurring? [duplicate]
From my understanding, most biologists believe that under certain conditions life can form from inert chemicals. If the conditions for this to happen still apply, is it possible that in bodies of ...
0
votes
0
answers
40
views
What came first: the ribosome in which RNA is read, or the RNA to encode for the ribosome proteins? [duplicate]
It's a bit like the chicken-and-egg problem. Ribosomes need proteins because they are partially made of them. Where can they get their proteins? They read the base sequence in mRNA entering them, ...
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
161
views
What is the highest concentration of sodium chloride for the oceans to be able to sustain life?
What is the maximum concentration of NaCl for life in the oceans to be possible?
Was it fortuitous that the concentration was originally no higher, in which case the evolution of life on Earth would ...
- 121
32
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Why aren't there any competing biologies on Earth?
Why aren't there any competing biologies on Earth? I read sci-books about life based on silicon and I've read an article that said that other structures than DNA can encode genetic information.
So ...
- 473
0
votes
1
answer
56
views
Common ancestry of our cells to the first unicellular cell
If we start the chapter of life with low fidelity self replicating RNAs forming exactly identical copies of themselves, which then later evolved to form the first primordial basic cells which further ...
- 141
1
vote
1
answer
365
views
A theory about the possible connection between protists and first animalia
I learnt that organisms within Kingdom Animalia can be either microanimals or (nonmicro)animals.
a microanimal is any Kingdom Animalia organism that in general cannot be seen by a human eye without ...
user22497
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How hard would it be to create a protein "by chance"?
I just read an article about David Gelernter, who was arguing against Darwin's theory of Natural Selection. He said one particular thing which stood out to me:
"...how hard it would be to create just ...
- 317
2
votes
1
answer
200
views
In the context of heterotrophic theory of abiogenesis, what is an organism that eats other organisms called?
In the heterotrophic theory for the origin of life, we imagine a primordial soup that is rich in organic compounds and the first organisms emerge eating those compounds. Since these organic compounds ...
- 3,012
3
votes
2
answers
196
views
Does the lack of "mirror life" tell us anything about abiogenesis?
My (extremely rudimentary) understanding of Biology is that many of the building blocks of life are chiral and that life on earth is entirely made up molecules with the same chirality.
Does this ...
- 149
2
votes
0
answers
63
views
How did genome replication first synchronise with cell division?
It is obvious that cell division in living organisms is now synchronised almost perfectly with DNA replication and, furthermore, the line of division has to intersect exactly the space between the two ...
- 141
0
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Does Pasteur's experiment contradict an origin of life?
To my understanding, Pasteur’s experiment demonstrates that life is only made from life. If this is true, then how could origin of life (aka. abiogenesis) ever have happened?
It seems to me that ...
- 103
4
votes
1
answer
231
views
Can a novel protein domain arise de novo in nature or did all protein domains evolve from a single ancestor?
I know there is extensive research into the taxonomy and evolution of protein domains and many connections are, and are continuing to be, found between numerous domains. However, as far as I can see, ...
- 294
6
votes
4
answers
707
views
Do we see protocells forming in nature today?
I understand that the current theory of chemical evolution (aka origin-of-life, abiogenesis) involves lipid-based protocells that enclosed RNA and perhaps some other compounds as a first steps to life....
- 909
0
votes
1
answer
54
views
Were Telomeres the Master Key to Abiogenesis [closed]
Knowing as we do now that all manner of complex organic molecules and viscelles/micelles form spontaneously in various environments, from hot vents perfect for basic hydrophobic H-C fatty acids and ...
- 185
4
votes
1
answer
185
views
Synthetic life creation - status of attempts
First I apologize for my incorrect English and for lack of modern knowledge regarding the subject (I studied biology a long time ago).
I'm interested to find out:
if there were successful attempts ...
- 143
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is abiogenesis possible today?
Life on earth started about 3.5 billion years ago. I would assume abiogenesis happened because the conditions were right.
Would the current earth conditions allow for new abiogenesis and completely ...
- 183
2
votes
2
answers
191
views
Does science have an explanation of how the first "common ancestor" formed in evolution? [closed]
I always have this question on my mind and I need a better explanation on this. Does Charles Darwin's theory explain it or are there any other theories which explain it better than Charles Darwin's ...
- 43
2
votes
2
answers
187
views
New earliest life found, what are the implications?
So a couple of days ago it was announced that new fossils of microorganisms were possibly discovered around former hydrothermal vents. According to the paper these fossils "are at least 3,770 million ...
- 827
4
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Experiments on abiogenesis in laboratories
Has any scientist created an organism in a laboratory using the primitive kind of Earth's environment, like the one used by Miller, etc.?
I read that protobionts (coacervates and microspheres) have ...
- 759
1
vote
0
answers
214
views
What theories exist as to how self-replicating molecules organised into the first cells?
When I was a biology student in the early 90's, what I learned and read seemed to indicate a gap in theories around the origins of life. There was, of course, no real evidence about how the first self-...
- 553
-2
votes
2
answers
378
views
How did Extracellular electron Transport evolve?
According to an on-line article at Smithosonian.com “Some microbes can eat and breath electricity”. This refers partly to the fact that Shewanella use extracellular electron transfer. Does such a ...
- 201
1
vote
4
answers
1k
views
Is a single cell "irreducibly complex"?
(sorry if the title seems like flame-bait - but it's a real question).
I'm trying to understand what could have come before the first cell (What are the "minimum requirements" for a single ...
- 909
1
vote
0
answers
52
views
Martian Abiogenesis?
In the Miller-Urey experiment the probability of the chemical origin of life under (hypothetical) early Earth atmospheric conditions were assessed. For that water, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen were ...
- 111
11
votes
4
answers
13k
views
How did the first life form on Earth reproduce without DNA?
How did the earliest life forms exist without DNA? The most likely scenario I can think of for life happening from nothing is that, over billions of years, with trillions of water molecules and dust ...
- 1,871
6
votes
1
answer
299
views
Current understanding of abiogenesis
I am trying to understand the current work on abiogenesis in biology, e.g. primordial soup, the Miller-Urey experiment, etc.
How has our understanding of abiogenesis been revised since the Miller-...
- 529
6
votes
1
answer
355
views
Why are abiogenesis and evolution considered unrelated?
When a discussion about evolution comes across abiogenesis - the typical reaction is that they are unrelated (see the headline at http://www.factsnotfantasy.com/abiogenesis.php).
It seems to be ...
- 909
0
votes
1
answer
159
views
What is the point at which abiogenesis is complete and evolution begins? [closed]
Is the minimum criterion for life a single cell? It seems that self-replicating RNA is not enough, but I don't know.
What would be the most basic cell that could fit this criterion and what cells ...
- 909
13
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Can we make a rough estimate of the number of generations since the origin of life?
According to what we've learnt :
we can approximate the number of generations since the first human pretty much like us (depending what / who we talk about).
we have an idea of the series of life ...
- 131
6
votes
0
answers
367
views
What is the most complex biological organism (or precursors) that we have been able to synthesize from raw materials?
In the Miller–Urey experiment they produced several amino acids. I'm not sure if there were other similar experiments that got further.
http://www.jcvi.org/cms/press/press-releases/full-text/article/...
- 909
15
votes
3
answers
514
views
Formation of Life
Originally, life evolved from non-living matter. Why is life only generated from other life nowadays, and why doesn't it evolve from inanimate matter, like it did originally billions of years ago, ...
- 335
7
votes
4
answers
408
views
Are there known examples where an evolved mechanism "echoes" one originally provided by the environment?
Short summary
I am a researcher in origins of life, a field that deals with hypotheses about evolutionary processes that took place before LUCA (the last universal common ancestor), and with the ...
- 489
6
votes
1
answer
402
views
The origin of molecular machines
DNA holds genetic information and holds the key to the evolution of living organisms. Transcription and translation mechanisms enable living cells to process information encoded in DNA. To that end, ...
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
are the spontaneous generation and evolution the same idea but in a different time scale?
I was in my biology class, learning the history of spontaneous generation and how this idea was discarded. I told my teacher that is the same as evolution but in a different timeline. I Argue that ...
- 141
0
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How can you explain the origin of life out of nonliving matter (abiogenesis)? [closed]
According to biochemist Robert Shapiro, the "primordial soup" theory is as follows:
Early Earth had a chemically reducing atmosphere.
This atmosphere, exposed to energy in various forms, produced ...
- 103
4
votes
1
answer
156
views
Life on other planets [duplicate]
first of all I'm not sure if I should post this here or in the astronomy stack. I think biologist are more likely to answer my question. To make it short:
Why when looking for any sort of life on ...
- 245
1
vote
0
answers
111
views
What are current abiogenesis hypotheses for first food source?
What is the very first abiogenetic piece of reproducing life (small piece of RNA + ribosome that randomly occurred?) hypothesized to have used as an energy source? I'd be interested in sources to what ...
- 1,963
30
votes
6
answers
11k
views
Why did abiogenesis only happen once?
If the "primordial soup" theory of abiogenesis is to be believed, self-reproducing organisms spontaneously arose on Earth at least 3.5 billion years ago, surprisingly soon after the Earth cooled down ...
- 317
8
votes
4
answers
866
views
What is the viability of Intelligent Design as a supplement to chemical abiogenesis and Darwinian Evolution?
First of all I am not endorsing Intelligent Design (Wikipedia link); I'm asking this because I (someone who does not have a background in biology, organic chemistry, or philosophy) got into a ...
- 939
9
votes
1
answer
970
views
How was the first ribosome theorized to have been made?
Seeing as ribosomes are what help perform the act of translation itself, and the blueprints for they themselves are in nucleotide sequences, how was the first ribosome theorized to have been made? ...
- 1,963
2
votes
3
answers
11k
views
What is the difference between abiogenesis and spontaneous generation?
As we all should know, abiogenesis and spontaneous generation are far from identical. For one, spontaneous generation was disproven with Pasteur, and abiogenesis seems to be a solid scientific theory. ...
- 6,705
13
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Has any large-scale origin-of-life simulation/experiment been done?
I have been thinking a little about the origins of life, and was further inspired by this question: How did the first self replicating organism come into existence?
I can accept that we don't quite ...
- 385
0
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why do living organisms replicate itself or procreate
Why do living organisms spontaneously replicate itself or "procreate" (my understanding is that it does).
From a uni-cellular and micro-organism point of view. Is there some sort of stimulant in the ...
- 287
4
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Were there lifeforms before LUCA?
This question got me thinking about something. LUCA is the last universal common ancestor of all current living organisms, which is a very different definition from the first-ever living organism. Is ...
- 6,705
3
votes
2
answers
353
views
Is it more likely that the very first living organisms had a linear genome?
Is it right to assume that the first living organisms on earth had a linear genome? I base this on the fact that linear macromolecules are clearly much more common in nature that circular ones. To be ...
- 6,705
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What elements are a possible basis for life?
I've been told that life on earth is carbon-based, Then I got curious about one thing: What are the possible bases for life and under which circumstances could lifr based on other elements exist?
If ...
- 379